Banner images: the Expanded Interiors exhibition in The House of the Cryptoporticus, Pompeii  (Image: Amedeo Benestante); detail of Expanded Interiors at Pompeii; Herculaneum (Image: Amedeo Benestante), Pompeii's Forum; Catrin Huber with the Expanded Interiors exhibition in The House of the Beautiful Courtyard, Herculaneum (Image: Amedeo Benestante);  Expanded Interiors at Herculaneum (Image: Amedeo Benestante); Professor Ian Haynes, Alex Turner & Rosie Morris scan and photograph Roman objects in Herculaneum

Expanded Interiors explores ancient Roman wall paintings and Roman artefacts through fine-art practice at the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The project has developed site-specific fine art installations within two distinct architectural contexts: the House of the Cryptoporticus, in Pompeii, and the House of the Beautiful Courtyard, in Herculaneum.

Initiated by visual artist Catrin Huber, Expanded Interiors is led by Newcastle University and brings together an experienced team from contemporary art, archaeology and digital technology. We are looking at the relevance of Roman wall painting and Roman artefacts for contemporary fine-art practice, and how to respond to the histories and complex nature of these archaeological sites within a contemporary context.

The project is funded by the AHRC (Arts & Humanities Research Council) and is working in partnership with the Parco Archeologico di Pompei, the Parco Archeologico di Ercolano, the Herculaneum Conservation Project, and Art Editions North.